Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-23
FEIGNING INSANITY.

EIUNlNU 1NSA0ll L.
Clever scheme of the Horse Thief
Arrested i'm this City TO Escape the
Penitentiary---R Result of Examina-
tions by Council of Physicians.
The Muscatine Journal of last evening
says it has become generally known IN
Muscatine that the man arrested in Rock
Island as the Hunt horse thief and now
in the Muscatine jail awaiting his pre-
liminary hearing, has been impersonating
a role since his incarceration which has
made his case an interesting study. both
to the public and the medical profession.
Since the mans incarceration, eighteen
days ago, with the exception of the ex-
clamation, Don't hurt mef' and several
utterances of the name Charlie" no ar
ticulate sound has escaped his lips. For
the first few days of his confinement be
refused food, but has since drank and
etten ravenously.
1t was manifest from the first that
either inuocently or teignedly he was tax
log up the role of person suffering from
cerebral arrangement, and this role has
been maintained in serious reality or with
great cleverness all along. until it has
begun 10 assume the form, or play. of a
dangerous insanity. He crouches at the
end of his cell like baboon, glares at
all approaching him with a cunning and
maleyolent eye. and rapidly passes his
hands in brush like fashion over his
forehead. Last Saturday he went through
all the forms of a spasm.
Tie Journal further remarks:
The county physician, DR.. Cal W
Smith, has been satisfied from the begins
ming that the prisoner was cleverly acting
"A part. The wound that he received in
the fall from the wagon at Rock Island
had healed, and the whole appearance of
the man, outside of his paroxysms and
othor believed simulations. indicated a
healthy normal condition of both body
and mind. But DESTROYS of having the
opinion of his medical brethren in the
case, he appointed Yesterday afternoon
and the grand jury room as the day and
place for medical and surgical investi-
cation and council, and invited Drs
Cobb Lezott, Little. Ruth and Tylor to
be present.
AT 3 p. N yesterday the prisoner was
taken from the Jail to the grand Jury
room. He resisted this movement with
such violence, using his teeth, as well as
his fists, arms and feet in assailing his
keepers, that it was necessary to manacle
his hands and feet in taking him over
and then he had to be carried bodily. On
being brought into the grand jury room
he WAS forcibly laid on table and ether
administered. The examination which
followed by the six surgeons and ply
scians disclosed no depression or adhesion
in the region of the old wound, no par
alysis of any set of muscles, normal
temperature, and nothing in the eyes
or pulsations, or any organ or function
to indicate other than physical and
mental soundness.
When the prisoner was first laid on the
table he was very demonstrative, striking
his head violently up and down on his
hard pillow; but it was observed thai
as soon as the hold upon him was
loosened TO give bis head free play
it was rot exercised so violently. Or
recovering from the effects OF the ether
he was closely watched for natural man
ifestatiOns of surprise on finding himself
in such condition; but be did not be-
tray himself. He gazed around upon the
company and then fell to examining the
sbackles on his wrist and ankles, anC
ended by breaking into crying and sob,
hing. except that there We're no tear;
whatever. In the examination of hi,
right arm was found 10 be tattuued Will
round scroll whose lines crossed below
and which was surmounted by bishops
mitre; aud within the scroll was the in
scriptiop, IT. F." with the figure
1879" underneath The examination
being concluded, the prisoner WAS car.
ried in the same forcible manner back Il
Jail
The Judgment of the council unanI
mously sustains DR.. Smith in his opinion
of the case, AS above given, and the prob
abilities are, not to say the certainties
that the prisoner has entered upon sys
tematic attempt to battle Justice by play
ing the role of a mad man. 1t is to b
regretted that some of the state appl
ances are not available at the jail t
quickly test the genuineness of his as
sumed malady.